You will find a skateboard truck as a T-shaped metal piece that mounts under the skateboard. It helps the skateboard bearing and wheels attach firmly to the deck. Without the trucks, the skateboard’s deck won’t go much further.
The size, strength, and height all combine to determine the performance you can get out of your skateboard. You will find some great tips and knowledge about the parts of your skateboard trucks in this article.
You will also find specific necessary measurements and features to check before buying a skateboard, and the role trucks play.
Where is a Skateboard Truck Located and its Parts?
A skateboard truck is found right under the deck. The truck consists of different parts like:
- kingpin and kingpin nut
- speed rings
- axle and axle nut
- base plate
- top washer
- top bushing
The bulging part of your wheels is attached to an axle. The washers on the skateboard’s axle are called speed rings. It protects the bearings from friction against the hanger or axle nut and keeps it clean.
Most of these parts are replaceable, and you can put a new one back as the skateboard is constantly prone to movement.
How to Select the Right Skateboard Truck?
After selecting the right deck, choosing the correct trucks is one of the most crucial decisions for a skater. If you are a beginner, it’s not easy to decide as there are a variety of sizes and descriptions available. You can slowly learn the difference between low, mid/ standard, and high trucks and find the best one for your setup.
- Low It’s designed for smaller wheels and provides extra stability for specific moves like flip ticks; 50-53 mm wheel size is recommended
- Mid They are perfect for street or park skateboarding; 53-56 mm wheel size is recommended
- High There are ideal for larger wheels and are meant for street cruising and longboard; a wheel size of 56 mm + is suitable
You can learn how to adjust your trucks according to your choice.
What is the Right Width for Skateboard Trucks?
The truck’s size is mainly measured in American units- inches. One inch equals to European unit of measurement 1 Zoll, i.e., 2.54 cm. Few manufacturers even use millimeters (mm) to denote the width of your trucks.
| 1 Inch = 2.54 cm |
To determine the width of your skateboard truck, you need to measure the width of the axle and hanger. The trucks must always fit the width of the skateboard. To maintain the center of gravity, make sure the truck isn’t wider than a deck. These measurements determine how effective your flip tricks and regular boarding will be.
Dealing with Squeaking Trucks and Bushing
You might come across some squeaking or damage, which is very common. For such minor maintenance, you can have a skating tool and make sure you have nicely lubricated the pivot cups and other parts.
While riding hard tucks, the pivot cup gets damaged, creating some issues. It can damage the trucks if they stay crooked. You can loosen the trucks or get new pivot cups as a solution.
Final Word
Skateboarding is an activity that is thrilling and fun. The skateboard truck is crucial for deciding the ease of skating, so make sure to go through a size guide of skateboard trucks.
To experience the maximum out of your skateboards, you need to make sure you know what kind of skills and use you have of the skateboard.
Author: Siddhi Chothani
